Dufftown 12 Years Old 2008 Cask #03087 (BB&R)

A 12 year old Dufftown from the London house Berry Bros and Rudd, distilled in 2008, from cask 03087, bottled at 54.9%, one of 488 bottles. Dufftown is a Speyside single malt, founded as the Dufftown-Glenlivet distillery in 1895. It is one of Diageo's largest malt distilleries, making around 5.8 million litres a year.

Mashed in the full lauter tun and fermented long for a clean, grassy make, the long ferment building a grassy, fruity character. Maturation came in a Pedro Ximenez cask, layered over the smooth Dufftown make. By the integrating teens congeners fade and esters build, the nutty, malty spirit growing rounder. The slow distillation gives a smooth spirit that takes well to the cask. Long ageing turns the fresh apple towards honey, dried fruit and a soft spice. Its single malt has been sold as The Singleton of Dufftown since 2006, mainly in the UK and Europe.

At 54.9%, undiluted, it is deep and malty. Baked apple, nut and a creamy malt, with raisin, date and treacle from the cask. Pear, honey and a creamy malt fill the middle. The finish is rounded, malty and gently spiced. This is a Speyside single malt of real character.